This is Find Your Dream Job, the podcast is Up to Get Hired, have the career you want, and make a difference in life.

I'm your host, Mack Pritchard. I'm also the founder of Max Celeste. It's a job

board in the Pacific Northwest that helped you find a fulfilling career. Every Wednesday,

I talk to a different expert about the tools you need to get the work you want. Referrals matter

in hiring. And one of the best ways to make these connections is through industry groups.

Cheryl Ferguson joins us to talk about how to make the most of your professional association.

She's a coach who works with people who want a better career. Previously, Cheryl was a recruiter

for more than 25 years. and she joins us from Seattle,

Washington. Let's get going, Cheryl. Let's talk about, we're talking about professional associations.

Why should you join a professional association if you're looking for a new job or thinking about a

career change? Well, the best reason is professional industry associations are all about building and developing

a community of people who have a shared industry experience.

So they're all in this industry. And what you want to do, what their

goal is, is to help their members become even more successful or be successful throughout their

career, not only when they're looking for a job. So how do they do that? Well, you can attend at both the

national and the local chapter levels. You can attend educational meetings. You can volunteer for

committee assignments. You can develop leadership skills. You can get that industry certification

you need to take your career to the next

level.

Okay.

So that's what the associations are and different ways you can get involved.

Cheryl, in your experience, who tends to get involved in professional associations?

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